James reed



No. 6l6,805. Patented Dec 27, I898.

J. REED.

WHIFFLETREE CLIP.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1898.) (No Model.)

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UN TED STATES PATENT Orricn.

JAMES REED, OF PADUOAH, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-TI-IIRDS TO JOSEPH A. LENDLER AND THOMAS E. LYDON, OF SAME PLACE.

WHIFFLETREE-CLIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,805, dated December 27, 1898. Applica ion filed April 5,1898. $erial No. 676,566. (N0 model-) To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paducah, in the county of McOracken and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Whifi'letree-Olips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clips for whiffletrees and the like; and it has for its prime object to provide a clip which may be readily secured to the ends of a whiffletree without the employment of screws or other fastening devices and one which will not become loose by shrinkage of the wood or other material, the whole being formed in one piece and at a very small expense.

The invention will be fully understood, together with other advantages, from the following description and claims'when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved clip, showing the same in position on the end of a whiftietree. Fig. 2 is an outer end view. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line y y on Fig. 2, and Fig. 4; is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line 00 a: on the same figure.

Referring by letter to said drawings, A indicates the clip, and B a part of a whiffietree, which is here shown for the purpose of illustrating the application of my improved device. The clip comprises a body portion a, which is of a contour corresponding to that of the whiflietree in cross-section and is contracted on its inner side at or about midway of its length, as shown at b, and the inner walls are flared in opposite directions from said contracted portion, the flaring or tapering toward the outer end, as shown at c, being preferably greater than the flaring or tapering in the opposite direction or toward the rearwardly and has its terminal end directed inwardly, as better shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Within this band or body portion I provide a wedge D, and this wedgein the present illustration is shown as formed in two curvilinear sections, although in some cases it may be formed in one section. This wedge is disposed centrally of the band or body portion a and extends from the outer end of the clip a sufficient distance therein with its edge inwardly. In practice I prefer to have this wedge of a length corresponding to the length of the flare or outward taper c of the clip. This wedge (or wedges) D is stayed in position within the clip by cross branches 6, which are also tapered inwardly for a sufficient length and also form supplemental wedges, the direction of the taper of these supplemental wedges 6 being in a direction relatively at right angles to that of the wedges D. It will be observed that while these wedges serve to enter the whiftletree, so as to split and separate the same, they also serve as a means for staying the wedges D in position. I have shown the wedges e as of less length than the wedges D; but I do not wish to confine myself to this construction, as they may be made of any suitable length.

At suitable points on the outer side of the clip or end thereof, and preferably on the wedges D, I provide lugs f, arranged opposite each other and in a plane below and on opposite sides of the terminal end of the hook 0. These lugs may be beveled on their outer sides, as shown at g, and have their inner sides straight, as shown at h. By the em ployment of these lugs theh'ook or eye of a trace when placed over the hook 0 will be prevented from casually coming off of said hook, and by reason of the lugs being beveled the placement of the trace hook or eye is very much facilitated.

With a clip of the construction described there is no liability of the samegetting loose orcoming off of the whiffietree by reason of 5 shrinkage or for any other cause, as it will be v seen that when the clip has been driven onto the whiffletree the wedge or wedges D will split and force the material outwardly, While the wedges 6 will split the material outwardly in an opposite direction, so that the material of the whiffletree being forced into the flared part c of the body it would require considerable force to remove it.

For the sake of cheapness in manufacture these clips, with the wedges and books, may be formed entire by casting; but of course they may be formed in parts and the parts secured together in any suitable manner.

The devices can be manufactured at a very small expense and can be applied to whiffletrees without requiring any experience in the trade.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Awhiflletree-clip comprising a body portion or band flared on its inner side toward its outer end and having a wedge arranged within its flared portion and tapered in the direction of its length, combined stays and supplemental wedges interposed between the first-named wedge and the body portion or band and disposed at an angle to said firstnamed wedge, and a hook formed on the body portion, substantially as specified.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a whilfletree-clip having its inner side flared toward its outer end, and also having a wedge arranged in the flared portion and directed inwardly, lugs arranged on the outer end of the wedge, and a hook formed on the body portion with its terminal end arranged in a plane above and between said lugs, substantially as specified.

3. A whiffletree-clip comprising a body portion or band flared on its inner side toward its outer end, a curvilinear wedge arranged in the flared portion of the body or band and tapered in the direction of the length thereof, and combined stays and supplemental Wedges interposed between the curvilinear wedge and the body portion or band, substantially as specified.

4. The herein-described whiflietree-clip comprising the body portion or band flared on its inner side toward its outer end, the curvilinear wedges arranged in the flared portion of the body or band and concentric thereto and tapered in the direction of the length of said body or band, combined stays and su pplemental wedges interposed between the curvilinear wedges and the body portion or band, lugs arranged on the outer ends of the curvilinear wedges, and a hook formed on the body portion with its terminal end arranged in a plane above and between said lugs, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES REED.

\Vitnesses:

WM. LYDoN,

WM. HOFFMAN. 

